Details, Details: Kinect For Windows SDK Coming Into Its Own

Flickr’d

A few details have emerged at MIX11 regarding Kinect for Windows—“few” being the operative word. For example, the beta SDK will include support for two-person skeletal tracking, making two-player games or Windows applications a distinct possibility.

What else? Microsoft says the beta SDK will support “advanced audio capabilities.” Echo cancellation and support for Windows speech recognition. Oh, and support for XYZ depth perception.

All of this is leading toward Windows applications that “use” like you’d use a Kinect game. Maybe a version of Internet Explorer that works with the flick of a finger. Flailing about with Microsoft Virtual Earth, that kind of thing. I know it’s trite at this point, but a Minority Report-like interface, but for genuine applications that you’d use on a daily basis.